Ciara O’ Floinn, Consul General Of Ireland And Irish Poet, Elaine Cosgrove Discuss St. Patrick’s Day And Read Poetry
“City Lights” host Lois Reitzes was joined by two recent Atlanta transplants from Ireland: Ciara O’Floinn, Consul General of Ireland for the Southeastern U.S., and Elaine Cosgrove, a poet from the town of Sligo and author of “Transmissions.”
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Although St. Patrick’s Day celebrations may not involve rowdy parades in the streets, the “City Lights” team is still excited to honor and enjoy Irish traditions and show our shamrock pride. Host Lois Reitzes was joined by two recent Atlanta transplants from Ireland: Ciara O’Floinn, Consul General of Ireland for the Southeastern U.S., and Elaine Cosgrove, a poet from the town of Sligo and author of “Transmissions.”
Both O’Floinn and Cosgrove read poems, as well as discussed the St. Patrick’s Day traditions in Ireland versus those in America.
Interview highlights:
On the Irish adoption of American St. Patrick’s traditions:
“For me growing up as a kid, the parade was the big thing,” said Cosgrove. “You put your shamrock on your dress, your jumper – or, your sweatshirt, I should say.” O’Floinn added, “Turning things green, as well… Actually, this year we will be, with the fantastic collaboration of the mayor’s office of Atlanta, turning City Hall green. I think that’s a U.S. phenomenon.”
On Eva Gore-Booth’s poem “The Little Waves of Breffny:”
“There’s definitely a harsh feeling of a longing, or a want … the ocean-y feel,” said Cosgrove. “I feel like the Atlantic and the West coast of Ireland is such a unique place, and it can really be a reflection for so many states of your mind and how you relate to the place. Because St. Patrick’s Day is also a day to remember home, perhaps feeling homesick, or that stumbling-through-my-soul feeling … that navigating feeling.”
On Eavan Boland’s poem “Quarantine:”
“It’s talking about the famine period in Ireland,” said O’Floinn. “I think it reflects on that period in history which went on to shape so much of the emigrant experience from Ireland to the U.S. I think that resonates very strongly today … It’s actually hard to read. I find it very emotional.”
On storytelling and poetry in Irish identity:
“I think we’re quite verbose,” said Cosgrove. “We love to tell a good story. There’s a very strong oral tradition in Ireland, long before the printing press, printed matter … A lot of families would have had their local poet, if you like, their storyteller. Someone to compose and to share their stories, sometimes through poetry, through the bard tradition. I guess we just never lost that.”
Cosgrove read from one of her poems, “Endless”:
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